Pressure sensing display

Abstract

A device includes an electronic display supported in a display chassis, a digitizer sensor overlaid on the electronic display, a circuit configured to detected touch interaction with the digitizer sensor based on output sampled and a display controller configured to control output on the electronic display. The electronic display includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) shield layer. The ESD shield layer is electrically connected to device ground and the impedance to the device ground of the ESD shield layer is configured to be sensitive to pressure applied on the digitizer sensor during user interaction. The digitizer sensor output is sensitive to the change in the impedance of ESD shield layer to the device ground.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device comprising:
 an electronic display supported in a display chassis; 
 a digitizer sensor overlaid on the electronic display; 
 wherein the electronic display includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) shield layer, wherein the ESD shield layer is electrically connected to device ground and wherein impedance to the device ground of the ESD shield layer is configured to be sensitive to pressure applied on the digitizer sensor during user interaction; 
 a circuit configured to detected touch interaction with the digitizer sensor based on output sampled, wherein the output is sensitive to the change in the impedance of ESD shield layer to the device ground; and 
 a display controller configured to control output on the electronic display. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , comprising conductive material configured to provide an electrical connection between the ESD shield layer and the device ground, wherein the conductive material is configured to alter its conductive properties in response to strain on the conductive material based on the pressure applied on the digitizer sensor. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the conductive material is rim conductive tape, wherein the rim conductive tape is configured to secure the electronic display to the display chassis, wherein the display chassis is connected to the device ground. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the rim conductive tape includes a plurality of strips that are electrically disconnected from one another. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the conductive material includes conductive dots configured to electrically connect the ESD shield layer to the device ground. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the electronic display includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer connected to the display controller, wherein the display controller is electrically connected to the device ground and wherein the electrical connection of the ESD shield layer to the device ground is via the TFT layer and the display controller. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the conductive dots includes a plurality of conductive dots arranged along edges of at least one layer of a stackup forming the display. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured to detect a change in a baseline output detected on the digitizer sensor, wherein the change in the baseline output is based on changes in the impedance to ground of the ESD shield layer and wherein the baseline output is the output detected from the digitizer sensor at a location with no user interaction. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 8 , wherein a level of pressure applied on the digitizer sensor is based on the detected change in the baseline output. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the circuit is associated with memory and wherein a defined relationship relating baseline output with pressure applied on the digitizer sensor is stored in the memory. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured switch from a sleep mode to an active mode based on detecting pressure applied on the digitizer sensor during user interaction with the digitizer sensor. 
     
     
       12. A method comprising:
 electrically connecting an ESD shield layer of an electronic display to device ground, wherein a digitizer sensor is overlaid on the electronic display and wherein an impedance to the device ground of the ESD shield layer is configured to be sensitive to pressure applied on the digitizer sensor during user interaction; 
 detecting touch interaction with the digitizer sensor based on output from a circuit associated with the digitizer sensor, wherein the output is sensitive to the change in the impedance to the device ground of the ESD shield layer. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein changes to the impedance of the ESD shield layer to the device ground ESD shield layers based on conductive material configured to provide an electrical connection between the ESD shield layer and the device ground, wherein the conductive material is configured to alter its conductive properties in response to strain on the conductive material based on the pressure applied on the digitizer sensor. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the conductive material is rim conductive tape, wherein the rim conductive tape is configured to secure the electronic display to a display chassis. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the rim conductive tape includes a plurality of strips that are electrically disconnected from one another. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the conductive material includes conductive dots configured to electrically connect the ESD shield layer to device ground via a display chassis. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the conductive dots includes a plurality of conductive dots arranged along edges of at least one layer of a stackup forming the display. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 12 , comprising:
 detecting a change in a baseline output detected on the digitizer sensor based on the changes to the impedance to the device ground of the ESD shield layer, wherein the baseline output is the output detected from the digitizer sensor at a location with no user interaction; 
 relating a level of pressure applied on the digitizer sensor based on the detected change in the baseline output; and 
 reporting the level of pressure. 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 12 , comprising switching from a sleep mode to an active mode based on detecting touch interaction with the digitizer sensor.